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THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH
767
ARS
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Brigham Young University
https://archive.org/details/documentaryhisto00stou
974.721 St76d
Pamphlet No.9
A DOCUMENTARY
H.I.S.T .O.R. Y
of the Dutch Congregation of Oyster Bay
Queens County
Island of Nassau (Now Long Island)
"Het Nederduijtsche Gemeente"
By HENRY A. STOUTENBURGH
COPYRIGHT, 1906 BY HENRY A. STOUTENBURGH.
NOTE .- While collecting these records, the compiler acquired many items of family genealogy seemingly too valuable to be omitted, and they are included although not of the Dutch Congregation.
The Knickerbocker Press, new Work
THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH
Secular.
SUCCOO'S WIGWAM.
THE Indians had a headquarters in Wolf [Wolver] Hollow and there has been much speculation as to just where it was located. In 1721, Jurian Haff bought land near Succoo's Wigwam; and when the church was built it was located near the dwelling place of Jurian Haff. His house was at the foot of the hill near the residence of John L. Bogart.
July 1, 1734, a number of citizens complained to the Town Committee that "Josias Latting doth stop and hinder the creatures from having access to a spring located near Succoo's Wigwam." Any person at all familiar with Wolver Hollow will readily locate the spring as being near the schoolhouse and on the premises formerly owned by the late Garret Maybee.
Among the papers of Judge Jacobus Hegeman, the Compiler found a non-executed deed of the premises, which is as follows:
Dated, 18II. John Peters of North Hempstead and Cornelius Van Cott of Oysterbay. Consideration, $2,812.50. To Nicho- las Mabee of Oysterbay, all that certain houses, buildings, and sundry lots of land lying in Oysterbay, being the property of Nicholas Van Cott, deceased, late of Wolver Hollow, on the west by the road and common that leads through Wolver Hollow, on the north by the road that leads from Wolver Hollow to Norwich and by Johannes Kashows land, on the east by the said Johannes Kashows land, and on the road leading from Isaac Remsen to Norwich, and on the South by the road from Barnt Snediker's barn to Isaac Remsens, one other piece lying in Wolver Hollow
703
704
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
between the highway and the "springs." Bounded on the South by a lot of land lately belonging to Henry Monfoort, on the West by the highway that leads through Wolver Hollow, East by the common aforesaid. It being a triangular piece of land. This "spring" has been a "bone of contention" for many years. A daughter of Garret Maybee (Mrs. W. H. Simonson) said that when she resided there, the spade and the plow often revealed relics of Indian occupation. The present owner claims for the spring, the possession of valuable medicinal qualities, and he informed the writer that a short time since, while making an excavation between the hills, he dug out a number of Indian arrow heads and also a pestle, which was used for pounding Indian Corn.
What more natural that Succoo should locate his camp in this secluded valley near a spring, whose waters never fail and surrounded by sheltering hills, covered with a dense growth of cedar trees; as many of them are to this day.
Perhaps the name Succoo's Wigwam had been attached to the place for many moons. He might have been the Indians' Wash- ington or Lincoln.
The Indian who entered into the real estate deal with the white people, and sold his birthright for a mere trifle in 1685 was called Sucaneman, or Rumsuck.
The last Indian Wigwam was located near the old house of Johannes Simonson and its occupant was called "Quamee," occasionally in these days we find a mixed Indian or half breed. There is one of them, now employed, by Mr. Alfred Hoogland at Cedar Swamp.
June 4, 1683, Caleb, John and Edmund Wright and their Father and Mother, Nicholas and Ann Wright, Josias Latting, Nathaniel Coles and Robert Coles, agreed to divide the land, which the Compiler presumes they had received under the Indian deed, and which was located; some of it in Wolver Hollow.
In 1738 the place was designated as the Hollow. At many of the Town Meetings in after years, it was called Wolver. Wolver Hollow is a valley of about three miles in length. The road from the church running about south east and connecting at the upper end with Mutton Town, and a road running south connecting
705
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
with Wheatly, going north from the church, the hills are higher and nearer to the highway. A short distance is or was Succoo's Wigwam. Continuing through the Hollow we come to a cross road leading north east to "Billy Hewletts Mill Pond, " and west to Cedar Swamp. This cross road is about the limit of the Hollow. Going farther north the valley terminates in "Beaver Swamp."
A little north of the Wigwam is another road leading out of the Hollow eastward, to Poverty Hollow, through Stony or Stormy Town. To the south from the springs the road men- tioned as from the barn of Barnt Snediker crossed the hollow on the north side of the Dutch Burying yard. Some traces are still left. The Turnpike farther south taking its place.
An old tradition says, that on the farm owned by the late John B. Luyster, there was a pond located between the hills, to which, in the early times, the wolves used to come down to drink. We may suppose, the name to have been derived from that tradition.
When the church was built in 1732 to 1734 there was no name attached to any of the church records, except the taking of the name of the Town "Oysterbay." The old names have been pretty well done away with. Wolver Hollow, is now Brookville; Lucum, is Jericho; Cedar Swamp, is Glen Head; Mutton Town, is Spring Hill. The refuge of the Old People has lost its seclu- sion and quietness, and the two hundred years that have passed, have brought into the territory many changes in the objects and places they dearly loved.
FROM THE DIARY OF ADRIAEN HEGEMAN. CEDAR SWAMP.
1770. the Locust were very thick.
I772. March 2, we had a storm of rain in the forenoon, wind N. E. then turned to snow in the afternoon, the next it snowed again. The 4th it was clear.
I772. March 5th-We had a great snowstorm.
I772. March 9th-We had a snow storm, the IIth we had a snow storm the 13th we had a snow storm; the 16th it snowed; the 17th the snow was knee deep on the level; the 20th we had a snow storm.
706
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
I772. Apr. 20. We had a storm of rain and snow.
I772. May 9. Jeromus Bennet had a raising for his Barn.
I772. May 29. George Bennet had a moving of his Barn.
I772. June 13. We had some frost in the morning.
1774. May 4. We had a storm of snow in the forenoon.
I775. May 26. Was thatched the east side of our Barn.
I775. June II. Was ordained Solomon Freleigh to be a minister.
1775. Dec. 24. Was the first snow.
1776.
When land is gone and money spent,
Then learning is most excellent.
How doth man this life misspend,
Consider what will be the end.
Labour for learning before you grow old, For learning is better than Silver and gold.
1776. Feb. 5. An Election at Jamaica for assembly member, chosen Blackwell and Townsend.
1776. Apr. 3. Joost Hegeman moved to Cedar Swamp. Peter Hegeman moved to Oyster Bay.
1776. May 7. Our Dawson mare foalded.
1776. May 17. Was a fast day, kept.
1776. June 12. Rem Hegeman raised his house.
1776. June 19. Was a general muster on the Great Plains, David Leighton was our Captain.
1776. June 23. Adriaen Hegeman was taken very ill. Doctor James Townsend attended him, making twelve visits in the following seven days.
1776. We had an oven made.
1776. July 14. We had some rain. 1776. Aug. 3. Great firing of cannon was heard in the North River, lasted two hours.
1776. Aug. 14. We had a hard rain and a great flood. 1776. Aug. 15. We had a great rain in the forenoon. 1776. Aug. 29. We left the lines at Brucklin, and went over to York. Next day we went towards Kings Bridge. We went to New Rochel. The 3d we went to Marineck. The 5th we went
707
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
to Rye. The 6th we came over the ferry on Long Island, and so home on Friday.
EXTRACT FROM A DIARY OF COLONEL JOSIAH SMITH OF SUFFOLK CO.
1776. Aug. 28. We lay in the lines all day & it was an Exceeding heavy rain, and there was a continual fire kept up between us and the Regulars all day and we lay in the lines all nite.
1776. Aug. 29. We lay in the lines until the middle of the afternoon and then we had orders to march over to York, and we staid in York all nite and we was alarmed aboute 2 in the morning that our army was leaving our lines on Long Island.
1776. Aug. 30. We marched to Kingsbridge or Westchester. 1776. Aug. 31. We marched to Nue Rochell and tried to get passage by water to the Island but could not.
1776. Sep. I. We marched to Mamaroneck & there we embarked on bord vessels to go home & about II o'clock at nite I got ashore at Captain Plats at Smithtowne.
EXTRACT FROM THE HISTORY OF N. Y. BY W. L. STONE.
1776. June 25. Lord Howe arrived at Sandy Hook.
1776. Aug. 22. Genl. Clinton landed at Gravesend.
1776. Aug. 27. Occurred the battle of Long Island.
1776. Aug. 30. The American army had retreated.
1776. Sep. 15. N. Y. was in full possession of the British with the American army at Kings Bridge.
THE DIARY CONTINUED.
1776. Sep. 15. Andries went with the waggon to Newtown.
1776. Sep. 2I. Vest began his month Friday. New York
burnt-5th part.
1776. Oct. 3. I left off chewing tobacco for four weeks. 1776. Oct. 5. Died Adriaen Hegeman, Jr., at Cruple Bush. I776. Oct. 6. He was brought home at his own house at Wolver Hollow and was buried the 7th.
Adriaen Hegeman Dr. to Vest. I mo. work began Nov. 9th for £I Ios. per mo.
708
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
Said month paid off and II. s. on the Second. Vest 2d mo. began Dec. 9. Paid on said mo. ·
sd
·
II O
· 3 fowls at 1.3
3 9
Vest Dr. to Adriaen Hegeman.
Cash 4. s. pr shoes 9. s.
I3
O
Pr shoes for Cate. ·
8
3
. Do. Jude,
.
3
9
Cash,
£2. I. O
1776. Nov. 26. Taken of me 40 Bush. of Corn in Ear, by Alexander Swanton, Sergeant Light Horse.
1776. Dec. 17. Taken of me I coverled & 2 blankets. By Sergeant Thomson.
Since man to man is so unjust,
It is hard to know whom we may trust.
1777. Jan. II. Was Prest our Dawson mare. By the Light Horse.
I777. Jan. 12. She came home.
1777. Feb. 8. Died Mordecai Robberts. A soldier here.
I777. May I. Adam Waggoner went to Oyster Bay.
I777. May 10. Peter Hegeman carted wood to Oyster Bay. 2 loads.
1777. May 24. We entered a horse into his Majesties ser- vice with John Luyster's horse and waggon. John Perbasco, driver.
1778. Aug. 2. Sunday night part of New York burnt, said to be 74 houses and Tuesday a ship was blown up with Pow- der, by thunder.
1778. Nov. 21. Andries Hegeman went with the waggon to Smithtown for Corn and boards for the Legion at Jerico. 1778. Nov. 24. Returned.
1778. Dec. 4. I kild a fox.
1779. Jan. 14. My mare was prest in the Kings service, by the Regment of Legons Lying in Jereco.
.
I6
.
709
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1779. Feb. 6. Doctor Brooks made a visit, who bled and purged Jeen.
1779. Mch. 9. Was sold the farm of Benj. Kirk, Late deceased for £21. IIS per acre.
1779. Mch. 14. My horses and Wagon went to Southhamton and returned the 2Ist. We had a storm of snow. Wind E.
I779. Mch. 19. We had a storm of snow.
1779. Mch. 22. We had a storm of snow wind E.
I779. Mch. 24. We had a storm of snow wind E.
I779. May 27. Doctor Treddell made a visit here with Doctor Townsend, who made 17 visits.
1779. June 12. Saturday night Daniel Monfoort broke his leg
1779. July 7. Widow Hegeman Dr. 15 lbs Veal. John Luyster Dr. 1/4 Veal.
Rem Hegeman Dr. 20. 1bs. Veal. Rem Hegeman Cr. 12 1/4 lbs. Mutton.
I779. Aug. 16. The Queens Rangers came to Oyster Bay.
I779. Sep. 12 to 24. James Townsend made 15 visits.
I779. Sep. 20. The Rangers left O. Bay.
I779. Sep. 27. James Townsend brought a cow and bull to pasture here.
1779. Nov. 3. Cornelius Hoogland discharged the man that worked at the Brooklyn foort.
I779. Nov. 29. James Townsend fetched (took) his bull.
I779. Nov. 29. James Townsend Dr. for 612 Bush corn Ears and Pasture of Cattle. Paid & settled.
I779. Nov. 30. We killed his cow.
1779. Had of Jeromus Bennet 5 loads of wood.
1780. Had of Jeromus Bennet I load of wood. 1780. Jan. 30. Andries Hegeman was Inoculated for the Small Pox.
1780. Feb. 17. He died and was buried.
1780. Apl. 4. Came here John Voorhis for to stay two years.
1781. Jan. 18. Thursday night a sorrowful accident hap- pened at the Widdow Vanderbelts. A gun went off by accident
710
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
and killed her oldest daughter and wounded the widdow in her arm.
1781. Apl. 25. Elizabeth Luyster, wife of Cornelius Hoog- land had a daughter born.
1781. Apl. 30. Egberche Row moved to Poverty Hollow.
I78I. Aug. II. Elizabeth Cornel moved to Mutton Town
1781. Oct. 15 to 18. Was shingled the North side of our house.
1782. (By the Compiler.) Mr. Hegeman's health had been failing since June 1780 and Doctor Townsend visited him many times, which are all recorded. His last sickness began Nov. 23, and he died Dec. 6. The Doctor's Bill paid May 22d of this year amounted to £33.17.4.
1782. Apl. 26. We had an oven made.
I782. Apl. 30. Our Dawson mare foalded.
1783. June 26. I fetched a Sow and 8 pigs of Pearsall to keep for the pigs and to return the sow when the pigs are fit to whean.
1783. Aug. 14. I returned the Sow.
1783. Oct. 8 & 9. There was a storm of wind and rain. Wind E & N E and an uncommon high tide.
1783. Oct. 29. Saturday night there was an earthquake.
1783. Nov. 27. We had a Rejoyseing day, Thursday.
1784. Apl. I. We had a storm of snow, wind E.
1784. Apl. 8. We had a storm of snow, wind E.
1785. June 9. Our Dawson mare foalded.
1785. July 22. Peter Sniffen was killed by accident, by a log in the woods.
1785. Oct. 10. Was brought at Peter Hegeman's of Eg- berche Rowe's things for to keep, one cupboard, one closet, four chears.
1785. Oct. 23. She sot sail for Nova Scotia.
1786. Jan. 18. Our Dawson mare died.
1786. Feb. 27. Rem Remson from Kings Co. died very sudden between Crookers and Abraham Monfoorts, in a sled.
1786. June 23 & 24. Was thatched the west side of my barn.
7II
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1787. July 23. I carted a load of wood to Jamaica for the Priest.
1787. Dec. 14. I carted my two loads of wood to Jamaica for the Priest.
I790. May 6. Sampson Crooker had a raising of a new Barn.
I79I. Apl. 26. Paid unto Samuel Weeks for the Plain lott I.S. Willett Kerby was overseer. I791. May 13. I carted one load of wood to Jamaica for the Priest.
1791. June 7 & 8. Was thatched the East side of our barn by William Bennet.
I79I. Oct. 18. We had a storm of snow, wind E.
I79I. Nov. 3. We had a storm of snow, wind E. I79I. Dec. 2. I carted my second load of wood to Jamaica for the Priest.
I793. May 9. Paid to James Underhill for Blacksmithing £2.3.3.
I793. Nov. 22. Finished carting my stalks and stacking.
I794. Apl. 5. Got our first newspaper.
I794. Apl. 19. Peter Hegeman Dr. to Peter Luyster. 4 Bush Oats.
I794. July 13. Was ordained Zecharias Cooper to be a Minister.
I794. Apl. 17. We made a new fence around the Burying Ground and enlarged. Bought 18 square Rods.
I795. Mch. 23. I made a wooden floor in my pig pen.
I795. Mch. 27 & 28. We had a snow storm, wind N. E.
I795. Apr. 13. I bought a mare at Samuel Downings Ven- due for £II.10.6.
1795. May 15. Carted I load of wood to Jamaica for the Priest Mr. Van Nest.
I795. May 18. My Bay mare foalded.
I795. Aug. I. Bought 2500 shingles for £6.10 per M. cost with freight and all £17.2.
1795. Dec. II. I carted my second load of wood to Ja- maica.
712
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1796. Mch. 22. Paid to Barent Snediker to making axle trees and bolsters £2.15
Paint to James Underhill 3.5.2
Iron work, George Remsen I.8
£7.8.2
1796. Apl. 3. I took home William Willetts' Jack to work the summer.
1796. Apl. 8. Elbert Hegeman moved to Cow Neck.
1796. Apl. 30. I went to the plains and made up the fence at the plain Lot with John Luyster.
1796. May 10. Paid to Joseph Hegeman for newspapers, for the year 1795, I2S. 2500. shingles cost £6 18 per M £17 2 Nails 75 lbs at Is per lb 3 5
1796. May 31 to June 3. Was shingled the North side of my house. The 6th I Tarred the Ruff.
1796. Oct. I. We raised our new Cyder Press, made by Abraham Coles.
1797. Apl. 4. We had a raising of our Cider Mill house, framed by Elbert Hoogland.
1797. May 2 & 3. It was thatched.
I797. May 22. Paid to Robert Willson for weaving tow 68 yds at 512d. and for weaving Linen. £3 II 7.
1797. May 29. I paid to Jos Hegeman for Newspapers 12S. for the year 1796, to Apr. 5, 1797 I year.
1797. June I. Paid to Robert Willson for weaving linen 118 yds at 6d per yd £2 19
Warping three pieces
3
Fall work 2.6
£5.8
1797. July 31. John McQueen came to stay here with me for two years.
1798. Apl. 26. I got taken with a sudden pain in my foot.
1798. June 27. I had a new set of leather Breech Collars made Cost. £o 19.4.
1798. Dec. 29. Abraham Bogert's horse was taken away by Jacob Leighton to New York.
I799. Mch. 13. I bo't a mare with foald at John Coverts'
713
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
Vendue. Said to be 8 years old in the spring, for £24 10. 1799. Apl. 9. I made up the plain lot with John Luyster Jr. I took 2 posts and 5 rails.
1799. Apl. 26. Egburche Rowe moved her household goods from Peter Hegemans' to Wolver Hollow.
I799. May 16. My black mare I bought of John Covert foalded.
I799. May 22. Wednesday morning Israel Pearsall was found hanging by a rope, and was dead. The Jury's inquest was, that he was deprived of his sences, and made way with himself.
1799. June 25, 26. I boarded up the North side of my Barn, by Daniel Downing.
1801. Jan. 26. Aaron Simonson was found dead in the Cow Yard and was buried the 28.th.
1801. Mch. 2. Buried William Miller, who was found dead in Charles Thorne's lower mill pond. He had been missing near ten weeks.
1801. Apl. 7. Paid Samuel Mott £1.2. for 2 cider barrels. Paid Jos. Hegeman o. 17.6 for newspapers. Paid Jorge Down- ing 9,s. for the Hay Boat for 3 Freights.
1801. Apl. 25. Settled with Hewlet Townsend for 61/2 Loads of Salt Hay for 1799. 212 Loads 1800.
Paid James Underhill for Blacksmith work £4.10.6.
1801. May 25. Paid to James McQueen for weaving 159 yds linen he had 6d per yd which came to £3. 19.6.
1801. May 26. John McQueen went from me to Mutton Town at his Fathers. He came here July 31, 1797 to stay with me.
1801. May 26. Andries McQueen came here to stay.
I80I. June 6. Hewlet Townsend had a raising of a new Barn.
180I. June 12. George Downing had a raising of a new Barn.
I80I. June 20. I bought a new hat for £1.8.
I80I. Oct. 14. I bought 8 lbs of Leaf Tobacco 4S.
1802. Jan. 17. Was burnt down the dwelling house of John Carle.
1802. Feb. 15. I bo't 8 1bs. leaf tobacco at 6d.4.0.
714
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
I802. Feb. 23. I bo't 9 lbs Tobacco at 6d.4.6.
I802. Apl. 19. My mare foalded the 2d colt.
I802. Apl. 26. I went with Peter Luyster to the plains and made up the fence, and took I post & I rail and paid Samuel Weeks 6. d for measuring round the Plain Lot.
1802. June I & 2. Was thatched the west side of my barn by Peter Hegeman in one day and a half; Bo't 2 loads straw of Peter Luyster for 12.S. per Load. 12.S. for Thatching the Barn.
1803. May 5. Paid to Hewlet Townsend for Hay £2.3.4. for 5 loads of Salt Hay & 600 wt of English Hay. My account against him was £5.10.8. The salt hay was £1.6. per load. English hay 4s per cwt.
1804. Apl. 19. John Luyster had a raising of a new barn. Saturday a hard wind at sow east blew down the rafters.
1804. June 16. I had a new oven made by Jarvice Clemons.
1804. June 28. I had a raising of a new waggon house. Built by Daniel Monfort.
1804. Aug. 29. Buried Rem Hegeman who died very sudden in his bed.
I804. Nov. I had a new well made by Daniel Monfoort.
1805. Jan. 15. I bought a box sled for £6 or 15 dollars.
1805. May 10. Settled with Hewlet Townsend for hay and other accounts and paid him £6.1.9.
1805. April. I went with Peter Luyster to the plains and made up the fence. Took 2 posts and 3 rails.
1805. May 18. I finished my pig pen and made a new floor in it.
1805. May 18. The Methodists began their Camp Meeting. Said to hold 3 days.
1805. June 2. Andries McQueen went home to his fathers.
1805. Aug. 18. Sunday morning was found the body of Andries Hegeman Junr. of Cow Neck, in the street and was dead, his neck was broke. Supposed to be by the fall from a horse,
1806. Jan. 2. Chas. Thorne's lower mill was burnt down.
715
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1807. Apl. 14. I went with Jos. Hegeman to make up the fence at the plains & took 4 posts & 8 rails; he took 6 posts 7 rails.
1807. Apl. 20-21. I had a new plow made to my new plow shear by Dan'l Downing. Shear cost 8 dollars.
1807. Sept. 26. I bought me a new hat for 4 dollars. £1. 12. and one for Stephen for £1.8.
1807. Oct. 26. I bought a young puppy of Adriaen Luyster.
1808. Mch. 26. John Voorhis by accident fell from a horse as he was running a race Saturday; hurt so much that he died the next day.
1808. May 5. Bred my black mare to Figure Jr. at Israel Underhills.
1782. May 29. The noted bay horse, Young Figure, stands at Richard Carman's, Hempsted, at $8 the season.
He is a colt of Old Figure, completely made for shape, strength and action, and equal to any horse within the British lines.
(In May 1787, Mr. Carman was in Halifax.)
1809. June 13. I had a set of new leather breech collars made by John McQueen,-The Leather cost 18.s. making 4.s.
18IO. Mch. 20. I gave Isaac Smith a deed for my salt meadow, which he bought for £68 and paid.
1810. Mch. 21. George Downing gave me a deed for his salt meadow, which I bought for froo and paid.
18IO. May 12. My black mare foalded the 3rd colt.
18II. May II. My black mare foalded the 4th colt. I8II. July 7. Buried James Ulmstead Jr. who died very sudden.
I8II. Sep. 8. Sunday I first saw a comet in the evening in the N. W. In the morning it appeared in the N. E.
18II. Dec. 12. Buried Nicholas Van Cott, who got badly burned.
1816. Apl. 25. I finished sowing my flax seed and oats in the young orchard: 17 bush oats, flax, seed I bu.
-
716
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1816. Apl. 30. Sowed near a bushel of Flax Seed behind the barn at the North End.
1816. June 6. I began to thatch the west side of my barn. Saturday noon I finished which makes 2 days and a half by Tunis Hoogland. He had £1.6 for thatching, for tieing inside 15s. Bought 14 lbs rope at 4.d per lb.
182I. May Io. My mare foalded.
1823. Oct. 17. I sowed my wheat.
1826. June 29. I finished my new well.
1828. June 18. Was thatched the east side of my barn by James McQueen.
(Compiler's note.) Included in this Diary was a record of his farm work extending for a period of over fifty years.
He sowed Flax Seed on an average April 22d. The earliest the 13th; the latest the 30th.
Planted Corn May 6th; earliest April 28th; latest May 17.
Cut Grass June 30; earliest June 24, latest July 10.
Harvested, July 12; earliest July 2; latest July 20.
Pulled Flax July 20, earliest July 3; latest July 31.
Peter Hegeman, who continued the Diary after his father, died at the ripe old age of 94, unmarried. Peter Luyster, grandfather of the compiler of this work was one of his executors.
There is a curious history connected with this Diary which is noted elsewhere.
The first of the Hegeman family connected with the Dutch congregation of Oyster Bay was Adriaen, who is supposed to have been at one time the owner of West Island, now occupied by Charles A. Dana. Adriaen's son Adriaen was the author of the foregoing Diary. For the family record see page 243.
Adriaen 5.m. Dorothy Onderdonck. The compiler has her Dutch Psalm Book with the date of her marriage in it-prob- ably given to her as a wedding present.
717
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
FUNERALS.
In 1819, a writer was present at a funeral of an old friend of Dominie Schoonmake. He writes:
As I entered the room I observed the coffin, elevated on a table in one corner. The Dominie, abstract and grave was seated at the upper end. All was still. A simple recognition or half audible inquiry; as one after another arrived, was all that passed.
Directly the sexton followed by a negro, made his appearance with glasses and decanter, and wine was handed to each. Some declined others drank a single glass.
This ended; again the sexton appeared, with pipes and tobacco. The Dominie smoked and a few followed his example. When the whiffs had ceased to curl around the head of the Dominie, he arose with evident feeling and in a quiet way and subdued tone made a short but impressive address in Dutch. A short prayer concluded the service.
The sexton taking the lead, followed by the Dominie, the Doctor and Pall Bearers, the last wearing white sashes and black gloves, lead the way to the Burying place.
A gentleman remembered attending a funeral in his boyhood.
The people had arrived for the services but the coffin had not yet been received, after waiting a long while the bereaved husband sent his son away on horseback to the wheelwrights (who made the coffins in those days) to see about it.
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